Should Donald Trump win in 2024, public health agencies like the CDC, NIH and FDA could face drastic restructuring, with proposals to reduce their roles, refocus priorities and transfer more control to political appointees.
Apoorva Mandavilli reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Proposed changes in “Project 2025” include splitting the CDC into two parts—one for data publication and another with limited policy-making power—and decreasing CDC's role in health mandates.
- The NIH could see budget cuts and a shift toward alternative medicine funding, while the FDA’s relationship with pharmaceutical companies may face scrutiny and restructuring.
- Trump may also withdraw U.S. funding from the World Health Organization and restrict overseas health aid, especially related to reproductive health.
Key quote:
“We’ll take on the corruption at the F.D.A., the C.D.C., World Health Organization and other institutions of public health that have dominated, and really are dominated by corporate power, and dominated really by China.”
— Donald Trump, former U.S. president
Why this matters:
These plans could reshape the landscape of public health in America, reducing the autonomy and scope of agencies that handle disease prevention and response. Public health leaders warn that such changes could hinder the nation’s ability to respond effectively to future health crises, potentially endangering lives both in the U.S. and abroad.
Read more:
- Biden administration acts to shield NIH from political influence
- Trump and RFK Jr. discuss public health collaboration in 2024 race
- Conservative policy plan threatens dietary guidelines and nutrition programs
